Glove shaping device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a glove shaping device for heating and shaping the wrinkled and sewn portions of a glove. The glove shaping device includes a plurality of heating plates to be inserted into the finger portions of the glove. A body portion is provided in its interior with an electric heater and joint depressions in its top portion. A cover is attached to the heating plates and the body portion. Each of the heating plates is formed to have a rhomboid sectional shape, a predetermined thickness, two parallel side surfaces each inclined at a predetermined angle, and a joint prominence corresponding to a joint depression in a body portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a glove shaping device, andmore particularly to a glove shaping device, which is capable of shapinga glove (golf gloves, dress gloves or sports gloves etc.) withoutwrinkles formed during the sewing process and has a temperature controlunit to easily make a temperature of the device suitable one for variouskinds of gloves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, people wear gloves to protect their hands while carrying outmanual work. Gloves are used in the various fields of industry orvarious types of sports. The gloves have various shapes depending onintended use and the type of material (e.g., natural leather, syntheticleather or textile).

Gloves are fabricated by cutting and sewing processes, but the glovesused for golf or formal occasions require another shaping processes(e.g., ironing) in accordance with their characteristics. Accordingly,in order to meet this requirement, some glove shaping devices have beenused. Examples of such glove shaping devices currently used are shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

First of all, the glove shaping device shown in FIG. 1 is developed andmainly used in Japan. This glove shaping device 1 comprises a pluralityof elongated heating plates 4, in which their top edges areroundly-shaped and their lower portions are secured to one another by aplurality of screws 2.

The glove shaping device shown in FIG. 2 is developed and mainly used inthe United States. This glove shaping device 1′ comprises a plurality ofheating plates 6 each having an oval sectional shape, coils 9 forheating the heating plates with certain temperature and a main body 8having an electric heater (not shown) for generating heat.

Shaping processes utilizing the conventional glove shaping devices 1 and1′ described above are explained below. For the former device 1, heatingplates 4 arranged and fixed by screws 2 are heated up to a certaintemperature by using separate heating means (e.g., electric stove,heater, etc.), and then the wrinkled and sewn portions of a glove areshaped while the heating plates 4 are inserted into the finger portionsof the glove.

For the latter device 1′, coils 9 (and also heating plates 6) are heatedup to a certain temperature by using the electric heater provided in themain body 8 and then the wrinkled and sewn portions of a glove formedduring the cutting and sewing processes and shaped while the heatingplates 6 are inserted into the finger portions of the glove.

However, the glove shaping device shown in FIG. 1 has the followingdrawbacks.

First, since a separate heating means is required to heat and shape thewrinkled and sewn portions of the glove, the work is troublesome and thework efficiency is lowered.

Second, since the heating plates that heat and shape the finger portionsof the glove while being inserted into the finger portions are made inthe form of overlapped sheets, contact between neighboring heatingplates occurs.

Accordingly, the finger portions of the glove become overlapped witheach other at their side edges, and the overlapped portions areoverheated. Because of the overheating of the overlapped portions, thematerial (e.g., leather or textile) itself tightly adheres to theheating plates, or a deformation occurs. Further, the quality of theproduct becomes deteriorated.

Third, when the heating plates of the conventional glove shaping deviceare heated to a certain temperature by means of separate heating means,it is not possible to adjust the temperature of the heating plates to acertain temperature (e.g., leather: about 70-80° C., textile: about 150°C.).

Therefore, upon the overheating of the heating plates, the problemsconcerned with overheating as described above occur. When the heatingplates are insufficiently heated to less than a certain temperature, theheating and shaping processes are not conducted smoothly, and thetemperature of the heating plates are not kept constant but is loweredwith time. The heating and shaping processes to the glove are notperformed sufficiently. In this regard, the productivity of theconventional glove shaping device is lowered, and the power consumptionof the conventional shaping device is high.

Fourth, since the heating plates, which are being heated to a relativelyhigh temperature by separate heating means, are inserted into the fingerportions of the glove, shaping work is difficult and the safety of theworkers is not guaranteed. That is, accidents, such as a burn, mayeasily occur.

In the case of the glove shaping device shown in FIG. 2, it is possibleto heat and keep the heating plates at a certain temperature by means ofthe electric heater provided in the main body, without separate heatingmeans. For this reason, this shaping device has an advantage in heatingand shaping the glove sufficiently.

However, since the heating plates of this conventional glove shapingdevice, which are inserted into the finger portions of the glove, eachhave an oval sectional shape, the wrinkled and sewn portions of theglove are shaped poorly, thereby deteriorating the quality of productsand not meeting the user's expectations. Particularly, in the case of agolf glove, the glove does not fit closely to the fingers, so thesensitivity of the hand is reduced, thereby negatively affecting auser's game, such as by causing a putting irregularity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a glove shaping device, which is capable offacilitating the adjustment of a heating temperature, providing apredetermined angle to the heating plates and minimizing the thicknessof the shaping device when the wrinkled and sewn portions of the glovefabricated by cutting and sewing are heated and shaped, and have jointprominences and joint depressions which are intended to make assemblework easier and to improve strength and durability of a shaping device,thereby reducing the costs of manufacturing the glove shaping device andallowing a shaping operation to be easily performed, resulting in areduction in the occurrence of inferior products and an improvement inthe productivity of a glove manufacturing process.

In another aspect of the present invention, a shaping device is providedwhich has a top portion of a heating plate being a rounded-shape with apredetermined curvature in order to maintain a curve of a glove when ashaping process is finished.

In order to accomplish the above mentioned objects, the presentinvention provides a glove shaping device for heating and shaping thewrinkled and sewn portions of a glove, comprising a plurality of heatingplates inserted into the finger portions of the glove, a body portionprovided in its interior with an electric heater which has jointdepressions on its top portion and a cover, wherein each of the heatingplates is formed to have a rhomboid sectional shape, a predeterminedthickness, two parallel side surfaces each inclined at a predeterminedangle, and a joint prominence corresponding to a joint depression in abody portion. Also, a joint prominence in a heating plate and a jointdepression in a body portion have a corresponding inclined plane at apredetermined angle respectively.

Furthermore, The present invention provides a glove shaping devicefurther comprising a control unit with a temperature control lever; anda fixing unit placed on a top portion of a control unit, wherein saidheating plates consist of the first heating plate, the second heatingplate, the third heating plate and the fourth heating plate which haverounded-shapes being curved to one side with a predetermined curvatureat their top portions and grooves to form spaces between two of saidheating plates respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a conventional glove shaping device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of another conventional glove shapingdevice with its principal portion cross-sectioned;

FIG. 3 is an perspective view showing a glove shaping device with itsprincipal portions enlarged according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a glove shaping device according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a glove shaping device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section of portion “A” of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an perspective view showing another glove shaping device inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is enlarged cross section showing a principal portion of anotherglove shaping device in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the samereference numerals are used throughout the different drawings todesignate the same or similar components.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the glove shaping device 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of heatingplates 30 to be inserted into the finger portions of a glove, a bodyportion 20 provided in its interior with an electric heater (not shown),and a cover 28. Each of the heating plates 30 is formed to have arhomboid sectional shape, a thickness of t, and two parallel sidesurfaces each inclined at an angle of inclination θ₁. A heating plate 30has a joint prominence in its lower end and a body portion 20 has jointdepressions in its top portion.

And a joint prominence in a heating plate 30 and a joint depression in abody portion 20 are formed with corresponding inclined planes 34, 24 ata predetermined angle θ₂ respectively.

Preferably a predetermined thickness is 8 mm, a predetermined angle θ₁of inclination is in the range of 15 to 17° and a predetermined angle θ₂of inclined planes 34, 24 in a joint prominence and a joint depressionis in the range of 5 to 25°.

Refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In the figures, cover 28 is combined toupper part of a body portion 20 with screws 26.

A plurality of joint depression 22 is formed in a top portion of a bodyportion 20. Heating plates 30 are finger-shaped and have a rhomboidsectional shape of two parallel side surfaces each inclined at an angleof inclination θ₁. And a plurality of joint prominences 32 is formed inlower ends of heating plates 30, which are expected to combine to jointdepressions 22. When joint prominences 32 and joint depressions 22 arecombined to each other, their combination results in firmly joining andfixing of heating plates 30 and a body portion 20 each other.

Therefore by joining and welding of a joint prominence 32 of a heatingplate and a joint depression 22 of a body portion 20, heating plates 30and a body portion 20 are united as one body of a shaping device. In theinside of body portion 20, an electric heater is provided, and then isshielded by cover 28 to avoid exposure to surroundings.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the heating plates is formed to havea rhomboid sectional shape, a predetermined thickness t, and twoparallel side surfaces each inclined at a predetermined angle θ₁. Apredetermined thickness is preferably 8 mm.

Referring FIG. 7, another embodiment of the present invention provides aglove shaping device. A glove shaping device for heating and shapingwrinkled and sewn portions of a glove comprise heating plates 30 consistof the first heating plate 30 a, the second heating plate 30 b, thethird heating plate 30 c and the fourth heating plate 30 d which haverounded-shapes being curved to one side with a predetermined curvatureat their top portions; a body portion 20 provided in its interior withan electric heater H; a cover 28; a control unit 110 with a temperaturecontrol lever 102; and a fixing unit 112 placed on a top portion of acontrol unit 110.

In heating plates, since grooves 30 e are formed in the first heatingplate 30 a, the second heating plate 30 b, the third heating plate 30 cand the fourth heating plate 30 d respectively, spaces 30 f are formedbetween two of heating plates according to being formed grooves 30 e.

Since there are still overheating problems in a shaping device it ispreferable to form a coating layer 30′ on said heating plate and saidbody portion so as to prevent the material from adhering to the heatingplates 30 due to excess heat.

An enlarged cross section showing a principal portion of heating plates30 is shown in FIG. 8, comprising the first heating plate 30 a, thesecond heating plate 30 b, the third heating plate 30 cand the fourthheating plate 30 d, arranged sequentially side by side. Advantageously,the first heating plate 30 a, the second heating plate 30 b, the thirdheating plate 30 c and the fourth heating plate 30 d, are sequentiallyarranged and aligned, on opposed sides thereof, advantageously generallyalong common parallel planes, as depicted in FIG. 8. Grooves(concavities) 30 e, for example of angular configuration as shown inFIG. 8, fanned in each of remaining sides which oppose an adjacent oneof the heating plates 30 a 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, define spaces 30 f betweeneach adjacent pair of the heating plates 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, therebycreating an enlarged gap between adjacent ones of the heating plates 30a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d.

In the structural example shown in FIG. 8 satisfying the aboveconditions, each of the heating plates 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d assumes across sectional shape obtained by modification of a generally rhomboid(rhombus) shape, specifically by augmentation of at least one cornerregion. First heating plate 30 a is defined, shape-wise in crosssection, by an outer perimeter formed by a generally rhomboid (rhombus)cross sectional shape which is modified by the addition of a generallytriangular portion bounded by a linear extension of a side of the crosssectional shape adjacent an acute angular corner thereof proximate tothe second heating plate 30 b, extended in a direction of the secondheating plate 30 b. and a line segment extending from a terminal end ofthe linear extension which meets the remaining side adjacent to saidacute angular corner. As such, the first heating plate has a generalcross sectional shape of a rhomboid (rhombus) with the addition of aprotruding triangular portion at an acute angle corner facing the secondheating plate.

Each of the second and third heating plates 30 b, 30 c is defined,shape-wise in cross section, by an outer perimeter formed by a generallyrhomboid (rhombus) cross sectional shape modified by linear extensionsof two opposed sides of the cross sectional shape adjacent both acuteangle corners thereof in a direction of the two adjacent heating plates30 a, 30 c and 30 b, 30 d, respectively, and corresponding line segmentsextending from a terminal end of each of the linear extensions whichintersect the remaining sides adjacent to respective ones of the acuteangle corners.

Lastly, the fourth heating plate 30 d is defined, shape-wise in crosssection, in a manner analogous with the first heating plate 30 a,described above. In this case, however, the triangular corner additionis directed towards the third heating plate 20 c as a linear extensionof a side of the cross sectional shape adjacent an acute angular cornerthereof (opposite to the side of the first hearing plate 30 awhich isextended) proximate to the third heating plate 30 c in a direction ofthe second heating plate 30 c, and a line segment extending from aterminal end of the linear extension which intersects the remaining sideadjacent to said acute angular corner.

The use of the glove shaping device of the present invention isdescribed in more detail.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, in order to shape a cut and sewn glove usingthe glove shaping device 10, firstly a joint prominence 32 of a heatingplate is joined to a joint depression 22 of a body portion 20 and thejoint region is welded to firmly combine each other.

In this step, a joint prominence 32 in a heating plate 30 and a jointdepression 22 in a body portion 20 are formed with correspondinginclined planes 34, 24 at a predetermined angle θ₂ respectively.Therefore after combination, a joint prominence 32 and a jointdepression 22 are not so easy to separate from each other. Moreover agrinding process is carried out for the welded part so as not to showthe welded part from outside.

In this case, a predetermined angle θ2 is in the range of 5 to 25°.

After assembling of a glove shaping device 10, the heating plates 30 areclosely inserted into the finger portions of the cut and sewn glove.

In such a state, when power is supplied to the electric heater providedin the main body 20, the heating plates 30 are heated to a certaintemperature by the electric heater. The temperature of the heatingplates 30 is adjusted by a control unit 110.

When the material of a glove is leather, the temperature of the heatingplates 30 is adjusted to about 70 to 80° C. Further, when the materialof a glove is textile, the temperature of the heating plates 30 isadjusted to about 150° C., and the heating time is about 10 to 20 sec.

As described above, when the heating plates 30 are heated by theelectric heater H, the finger portions of the glove closely fitted ontothe heating plates 30 are heated and shaped. Accordingly, the wrinkledand sewn portions of the glove are desirably shaped, thereby allowingthe glove to have a desirable shape.

In this case, the above-described heating plate 30 is provided with theside surfaces each inclined at an angle of θ₁, so the heating plates 30are easily inserted into the finger portions of the glove, and also agap having a given size is formed between two neighboring heating plates30 by the neighboring inclined side surfaces.

Therefore, while the glove is heated and shaped, overheating resultingfrom contact between the finger portions of glove is prevented. Further,the finger portions of the glove heated while being fitted on the aboveheating plates 30 are shaped in the same thickness t (about 8 mm) as theheating plate, so the glove can maintain the thickness t after beingshaped. Accordingly, when a user wears the glove, the glove closely fitson his hand.

In this case, the predetermined thickness t of each of the heatingplates is about 8 mm and the predetermined angle θ₁ is in the range of15 to 17°.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, another preferred embodiment provided in thepresent invention is used, which has heating plates 30 of a shapingdevice 10 with rounded-shapes being curved to one side with apredetermined curvature at their top portions resulting in maintaining arounded-shape of the glove after being shaped.

In the process of heating and shaping, since a portion of glove (a wristof a glove) made of synthetic fiber can not resist a relatively hightemperature, it adheres to the surface of heating plates 30 heated up tothe temperature to shape the material of leather (about 70 to 80° C.) orthe material of textile (150° C.).

In order to avoid the problem, in a glove shaping device according tothe present invention, a coating layer 30′ is formed on the surfaces ofheating plates 30 and a body portion 20. Accordingly at the suitabletemperature to shape a glove, the material of a glove does not tightlyadhere to the heating plates, or a deformation does not occur.

As described above, when the wrinkled and sewn portions of the glovefabricated by cutting and sewing are heated and shaped using the gloveshaping device of the present invention, the adjustment of a heatingtemperature is easy and convenient, and the thickness of the shapingdevice is minimized. Accordingly, the costs of manufacturing the gloveshaping device can be reduced, and a shaping operation can be easilyperformed. As a result, the occurrence of inferior products can bereduced and the productivity of a glove manufacturing process can beimproved.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A glove shaping device, comprising: a body portion including an electric heater disposed in an interior thereof; and a first heating plate, a second heating plate, a third heating plate and a fourth heating plate attached to the body portion, each of the heating plates assuming a cross sectional shape obtained by modification of a generally rhomboid or rhombus shape by augmentation of at least one corner region; said first heating plate being defined, shape-wise in cross section, by a first outer perimeter formed by the generally rhomboid or rhombus cross sectional shape which is modified by addition of a generally triangular portion bounded by a linear extension of a side of the cross sectional shape adjacent an acute angular corner thereof proximate to the second heating plate, extended in a direction of the second heating plate, and a line segment extending from a terminal end of the linear extension which meets the remaining side adjacent to said acute angular corner; said second and third heating plates being defined, shape-wise in cross section, respectively by second and third outer perimeters each formed by a generally rhomboid or rhombus cross sectional shape modified by linear extensions of two opposed sides of the cross sectional shape adjacent both acute angle corners thereof in a direction of two adjacent heating plates, respectively, and corresponding line segments extending from a terminal end of each of the linear extensions which meet the remaining sides adjacent to respective ones of the acute angle corners; said fourth heating plate being defined, shape-wise in cross section, by a fourth outer perimeter formed by the generally rhomboid or rhombus cross sectional shape which is modified by addition of a fourth generally triangular portion bounded by a linear extension of a side of the cross sectional shape adjacent an acute angular corner thereof proximate to the third heating plate, extended in a direction of the third heating plate, and a line segment extending from a terminal end of the linear extension which meets the remaining side adjacent to said acute angular corner.
 2. The glove shaping device according to claim 1, wherein a coating layer is formed on said heating plates and said body portion. 